Pablo Zabaleta of Argentina controls the ball against John Obi Mikel of Nigeria during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 25, 2014 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

The Journal provides analysis of the final games in Group F at the 2014 World Cup, featuring Argentina vs. Nigeria; Bosnia vs. Iran at 12 p.m. ET. Commentary is provided by Ryan M. Wallerson and Joe E. Melvin, with contributions from the WSJ team across the globe.

The World Cup Group F final between Argentina and Nigeria may come down to a duel between the much-storied Lionel Messi and the relatively little-ballyhooed Vincent Enyeama.

The World Cup exploits of Messi, FC Barcelona’s wunderkind, have been much publicized. His second-half goals in both of Argentina’s previous wins have been praised widely, especially his injury-time strike to beat Iran 1-0 on Saturday.

But with Nigeria scoring one goal in its two previous matches, Enyeama likewise has been carrying the Super Eagles, the only team yet to concede a goal at the World Cup.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Lille in France, reportedly is drawing interest from Arsenal and Sunderland.

Neither Messi nor Argentina needs to duel with Nigeria. They’ve already clinched their place in the last 16 with six points, and need merely a draw to finish atop the group. That would get Argentina a second-round match against the runner-up from Group E, the France-Ecuador-Switzerland-Honduras group.

Nigeria, however, is in a precarious situation. With four points, it sits three ahead of Iran, which plays pointless and eliminated Bosnia-Herzegovina in a simultaneous match.

A draw would get it through without having to worry about the Bosnia-Iran result. But a Nigeria loss and an Iran win could send the “Princes of Persia” through. It will all depend on goal difference, or possibly goals scored. Nigeria has a plus-1 goal difference, Iran a minus-1.

Nigeria has scored once, Iran not at all. A 1-0 victory by Iran and a 1-0 loss by Nigeria would leave them equal – and require the drawing of lots. (The only other tie-breaking criteria after goals scored have to do with head-to-head, and Iran and Nigeria drew 0-0.)

A 2-1 win by Iran combined with a 1-0 loss by Nigeria would send the Iranians through. But a 1-0 win by Iran joined with a 2-1 loss by Nigeria favors the Africans. Of course, Iran has won only one game in 11 tries at the World Cup, in 1998 against the United States.

And for a really interesting scenario, consider this: If Iran prevails and finishes second in Group F, and the United States beats Germany to win Group G, the teams would be one step away (i.e. the quarterfinals) from a rematch of “The Mother of all Games.”

From FIFA.com , Iran were the first national team to play Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a friendly match back in 1993. The Bosnians emerged 3-1 victors in Tehran, although the match was not officially registered as the Bosnian Football Federation was not yet a member of FIFA.

Iran are also unbeaten in five past meetings with Bosnia and Herzegovina between 2001 and 2009, having notched four wins and a draw.

Begovic makes a good save for Bosnia, but the replays (and officials) show it was offside. Bosnia didn’t celebrate much after the goal. Perhaps they are struggling to deal with being eliminated from the tournament, perhaps they are still angry about the bad offside call in the loss to Nigeria.

All 32 teams have conceded at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and only one has failed to score. That would be Iran. They currently need to score at least 2 to have a chance to advance, but if the result in the other game holds, it won’t matter if they score 7.

Zaire didn’t score a goal and went home with a -14 goal difference in 1974.

Iran have actually played well in their 3 games and still have a chance to progress. It will be tough as Bosnia & Herzegovina will argue they have been the unluckiest team in Brazil. An interesting 45 minutes ahead – it could be the last World Cup action for both teams for at least 4 years.

Some panic in the Bosnia defense as Haji Safi has a shot blocked. Iran pushing men forward, But Dejagah is ruled offside. He scuffed his chance anyway. More attacking intent from Iran now – they have to go for it.

Vranjes comes on for Bosnia. Have to think the coach is giving his squad some experience of the World Cup. This game is over – Iran haven’t scored one yet, I very much doubt they can get 3 in 30 minutes.

Final. Argentina 3, Nigeria 2. Messi getting comparisons to Maradona, who carried Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title. Hard to argue at the moment, with four goals in three games. Nigeria gets through to the second round for the first time since 1998.

So another group is wrapped up, with Argentina and Nigeria advancing to the last 16.

Argentina looked less than convincing despite winning all 3 games, and relied heavily on the brilliance of Lionel Messi, who took his personal tally to 4 in 3 games.

Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina bow out, despite both playing well in short periods. That’s not enough in these tournaments, and they were both punished for lapses in concentration (and some individual brilliance from Messi).

Argentina will probably play Switzerland or Ecuador, with Nigeria likely to face France.

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3:01 pm June 25, 2014

Messi after Ronaldo is uuu wrote:

Messi after Ronaldo is uuu

1:53 pm June 25, 2014

WES wrote:

Great match.
Good job to Brian Trusdell and company for the blogging.

1:44 pm June 25, 2014

albert puyol wrote:

playing now Argentina vs Nigeria LIVE! as messi is expected to deliver again and as always will be compared again to diego maradona... tiny.cc/9yyyhx

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